NIGERIA, GHANA SEAL MARITIME PACT TO BOOST BLUE ECONOMY, FIGHT PIRACY

BY FRONTLINE REPORTERS

Nigeria and Ghana have strengthened their maritime partnership with the signing of a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation, enhancing maritime security, and accelerating the development of the Blue Economy across West Africa.
The agreement, signed in Lagos by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), is expected to reinforce regional maritime governance through joint initiatives in safety, security, capacity building, regulatory cooperation, and knowledge sharing.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, commended Ghana for supporting Nigeria’s successful re-election to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Category C Council, describing the relationship between both countries as a strong foundation for advancing maritime development in the sub-region.

Mobereola said the agreement provides a practical framework for collaboration in maritime safety and security, mutual recognition of Certificates of Competency (CoC), institutional capacity building, comparative research, joint enforcement operations, and coordinated engagement at international maritime forums.
He stressed that the success of the partnership would depend on effective implementation backed by measurable outcomes.
“We will continue to work together to grow our economies and make the maritime sector safer. This Memorandum of Understanding is a commitment to do better. NIMASA will fully play its part in implementing the agreement, while both institutions must establish annual implementation agendas to monitor progress and deliver tangible results,” he said.
According to the NIMASA boss, Nigeria and Ghana, as leading maritime nations in West and Central Africa, share the responsibility of shaping the future of the region’s maritime industry. He added that the partnership should extend beyond both countries by promoting regional collaboration capable of unlocking the enormous economic potential of the Blue Economy.
As part of the agreement, both maritime administrations will establish a Joint Consultative Team (JCT) to coordinate implementation, develop action plans and monitor agreed programmes through designated focal persons. The committee will meet twice annually, with meetings rotating between Nigeria and Ghana to review progress and strengthen bilateral cooperation.
The MoU is expected to improve maritime governance, strengthen institutional capacity, promote evidence-based policymaking through comparative research, enhance regulatory effectiveness, and intensify collaborative efforts against piracy, armed robbery at sea, and maritime terrorism, particularly within the Gulf of Guinea.
In his remarks, the Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority, Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali, described the agreement as a major milestone in the long-standing partnership between the two maritime institutions.
He acknowledged Nigeria’s leadership in the regional maritime sector, noting that Ghana has benefited from several Nigerian initiatives, including the Cabotage regime, ship registry system and regulatory frameworks.
“This Memorandum of Understanding consolidates an already mutually beneficial relationship. Ghana remains fully committed to implementing every aspect of the agreement as we continue to learn from one another and work together to strengthen maritime administration across the region,” Ali said.
The signing of the agreement underscores the commitment of both countries to advancing regional integration, strengthening maritime safety and security, and promoting sustainable economic growth through closer institutional collaboration.